Peugeot Launches New 308CC Coupé
Cabriolet

Jay Williams - 16/July/2009

Peugeot
308CC Coupé Cabriolet

Dynamic
coupé

Elegant
cabriolet

The
Airwave system is built
into the front seats

The
308CC has a five star
EuroNcap rating

Sydney,
Australia–Peugeot
has just launched the new 308CC in Australia, the four-seat
convertible is not
only functional, it also comes with Peugeot's award-winning 1.6-litre
turbo petrol engine, which rounds out an impressive engine
line-up on the new 308CC.

For the last three years in a row, Peugeot has
won the International Engine of the Year
award in the 1.4 to 1.8- litre category.

The 1.6-litre petrol turbo models are available
with two transmission types.

A six-speed manual and a four-speed automatic are
available in the standard 308CC and 308CC S comes
only in an automatic which features a tiptronic manual mode.

Mated to the manual transmission the 1.6-litre
turbo produces 110kW and 240Nm of
torque at just 1,400rpm. While torque figures remain the same for both
transmissions the maximum power output for the automatic is 103kW

Richard
Grant, national marketing manager, Peugeot Automobiles Australia, had
this to say, “The higher-revving nature of the turbo petrol model gives
the 308CC a more sports-car like feel – especially with the
manual transmission. ”

“Certainly the credentials of the 1.6-litre unit
cannot be questioned, given its impressive run of awards. ”

The
308CC is also the first Peugeot convertible to offer a diesel engine
in Australia. The 2.0-litre HDi FAP engine produces 100kW and 300Nm of
torque at 2,000rpm and is mated to a 6-speed automatic.

With
just a flick of a switch the new Peugeot 308CC can transform from a
dynamic coupé to an elegant cabriolet in just 20 seconds. The
transformation can happen at speed of up to 12km/h, however I would
recommend staying stationary.

The overall design of the roof
and it's mechanisms have been optimised for improved
reliability,
with a continuous diagnostic check of all sensors and new
anti-rattle locking cams for the roof
locks.

The 308CC received the top rating of five
stars
from EuroNcap in the “adult occupancy test” with a
total of
36 points (out of a possible maximum 37).

Safety features
such as the side head airbag that is deployed from within the seat’s
headrest and a chest/pelvis side airbag, both built into the
front seats , is the first ever to be installed in a production car.

The
Peugeot 308CC will feature the Airwave system, which is built into the
front seats. The system emits warm air around the neck and shoulders of
the occupant and can be adjusted for temperature, flow and direction,
which should take the chill out of open-top motoring in the colder
months.

The Airwave system is fitted as standard to all
308CC S models, and is
available on 308CC as part of the leather option.

Peugeot Automobiles Australia general manager/
director Ken Thomas believes the new 308CC offers quite unique value
and had this to say,

“We
are confident that the affordability of the 308CC may surprise many,
given its style, quality and the level of standard equipment.”

“It
certainly offers a lot for the price in this market especially when you
consider that it has a EuroNcap five-star safety rating – including
side head airbags – ESP and self-deploying rollover bars, rear park
assist, and numerous classic design touches standard across the entire
range.”

Peugeot celebrates the 75th anniversary
of its invention of the retractable steel roof with
the launch of the new 308CC. Peugeot's 401 Eclipse – the
world’s first electrically retractable steel roof.